Doll construction for natural move ments and positions



Feb. 4, 1969 I J. w. RYAN ETAL 3,425,155

DOLL CONSTRUCTION FOR NATURAL MOVEMENTS A ND POSITIONS Filed July 15, 1966 Sheet /..of2".

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DOLL CONSTRUCTION FOR NATURAL MOVEMENTS AND POSITIONS Filed July 15. 1966 Sheet .2 of2 81 55 MMM United States Patent Ofice 8 Claims The present invention relates to a new and useful doll construction for natural movements and positions and 'more particularly to a doll having an upper torso portion and a lower torso portion which are connected together for twisting body movements.

Certain dolls are favorites of children today because of the realism which is associated with a particular doll in different play environments. These environments are created by dilferent accessories which may be used with the doll. Some of these play environments are limited, however, by the lack of natural movements and positions for the doll.

This problem was partially overcome by a doll construction wherein an upper torso portion has a lower end defined by a ball which is seated in an undersized socket provided in a lower torso portion. Since the ball is larger than the socket, a noticeable gap is left between the upper torso portion and the lower torso portion so that, because of the universal movement olfered by the ball joint, unwanted tilting and leaning of the upper torso portion with respect to the lower torso portion results.

In another doll construction, the torso is cut in two parts along a horizontal plane and then joined together by pivot means. This construction also results in unnatural body movements because there is no predetermined action between the mating torso halves.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful doll construction for natural movements and positions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a doll construction having a twist type of posture and action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a doll having upper and lower torso portions pivotally connected together by coplanar end portions forming a predetermined first angle with a side-to-side horizontal axis and a predetermined second angle with a forwardrear horizontal axis for producing a predetermined twisting action when one torso portion is pivoted on the other torso portion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful doll of the type described having bendable legs swingably connected to a torso which includes an upper torso portion and a lower torso portion connected together for twisting movements with respect to each other.

According to the present invention, a doll is provided with bendable legs which are swingably connected to a torso including an upper torso portion and a lower torso portion.

The upper torso portion includes a neck having an upper end which includes an upstanding attachment means for connecting a head to the doll. The upper torso portion also includes a lower end forming a predetermined 3,425,155 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 first angle with a side-to-side horizontal axis and a predeter-mined second angle with a forward-rear horizontal axis. Removal of the upper torso portion from a mold during the manufacturing of the doll may be facilitated by forming at least one of these same angles on the upper end of the neck. The upper end of the lower torso also forms these same predetermined first and second angles with a side-to-side horizontal axis and a forwardrear horizontal axis, respectively.

Pivotal attachment means connects the two torso portions together so that the upper end of the lower torso portion and the lower end of the upper torso are placed in face-to-face relationship in the same plane for producing a self-imposed, predetermined twisting action when the torso portions are pivoted with respect to each other. The bendable leg may be of the type disclosed in copending application No. 339,631, filed Jan. 23, 1964.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a doll of the present invention shown in a sitting position with the torso twisted to a predetermined position clockwise and the head turned to a predetermined position counterclockwise;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, side-elevational view of the upper torso portion of the doll of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, rear-elevational view of the upper torso portion shown in FIG. 2 with parts broken away to show internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, plan view of the upper torso portion of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, front view of the lower torso portion of the doll of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, side-elevational view of the lower torso portion of FIG. 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIGURE 8 is a rear-elevational view of the torso of FIG. 5- with parts broken away to show internal construction;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the torso portion shown in FIG. 8; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 1 with the upper torso portion rotated back to a straight-ahead position.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a doll constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a head 12, a torso 14, a pair of bendable legs 16 of the type disclosed in said co-pending application, and a pair of arms 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the torso 14 includes an upper torso portion or member 20 having a substantially cylindrical neck portion 22, a pair of shoulders 24, 26, a back portion 28, a midritf portion 30 and a bust-line forming means 32. The neck portion 22 includes an upper end 34 forming a shelf for supporting the head 12 on a predetermined angle A formed between a substantially horizontal plane and a f0rward-rear axis B-B extend- 3 ing from the front edge 36 through the rear edge 38 of the shelf 34.

The torso member 20 also includes a head-receiving spool 40 which is formed on the shelf 34 during a molding operation wherein the entire torso member 20 is formed during a single step. The spool 40 is afiixed to the shelf 34 by a cylindrical member 42 and includes a lower frustoconical portion 44, a central cylindrical portion 46 and an upper frustoconical portion 48. The portion 48 is surmounted by a cylindrical molding spur 50 which may be removed after the molding operation, if desired.

The upper torso member 20 also includes a lower end 52 which is closed by a bottom wall 54 which, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 3, includes an annular undercut portion 56 and a peripheral, annular planar portion 58 formed integrally with a depending connecting means 60. The planar portion 58 forms a first predetermined angle C with a substantially horizontal side-to-side axis DD and a second predetermined angle E with a forward-rear horizontal axis FF. It is an important feature of the present invention that the angle A equal the angle E to facilitate separating the upper torso member 20 from a split mold (not shown) having a front mold half and a rear mold half, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although a number of different design parameters may be used for the bottom wall 54, it is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, in FIG. as having a 0.840 inch diameter at the outer edge 61 of the annular planar portion 58, a 0.740 inch diameter at its inner edge 62, a 0.75 inch spherical radius for the undercut portion 56, a 0.400 inch diameter for an upper, cylindrical portion 64 of the connecting means 60, a 0.470 inch diameter at a mid-portion 66 of the connecting means 60, and a 19 .slope from the mid-portion 66 to the lower end 68 of the connecting means 60. The connecting means 60 includes a key 70 formed integrally therewith during the aforementioned molding operation.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the shoulders 24, 26 are each provided with an arm-receiving aperture 72 formed in a planar portion 74 of an associated shoulder 24, 26. Preferably, the planar portion 74 forms an angle G of approximately 7 with a substantially horizontal, forward-rear axis H-H.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5-10, the torso 14 also includes a lower torso portion or member 76 having an upper, midrifl? portion 78 and a lower trunk portion 80. The lower trunk portion 80 is substantially hollow and includes a rear rump-forming wall 82, an abdomen-forming front wall 84 and a pair of parallel, hip-receiving sidewalls 86.

Each of the walls 86 forms an angle I of approximately 8 with a forward-rear horizontal axis J-J so that the hip-portions 88 of the legs 16 form a suitable angle with the torso 14. An aperture 90 is provided in each Wall 86 for receiving an associated hip portion 88.

The lower torso member 76 includes a top wall 92 having an undercut portion 94 formed on a 0.75 inch spherical radius and annular planar member 96 forming a predetermined angle K with a substantially horizontal sidc-to-side axis LL and a second predetermined angle M with a substantially horizontal forward-rear axis N-N. It is an important feature of the invention that the angles K and M be the same as the corresponding angles C and E on the upper torso member 20 so that, when the connecting means 60 is engaged in an aperture 98, provided in the top wall 92, the portions 58 and 96 will be coplanar.

The aperture 98 includes an arcuate sector 100 forming shoulders 102 in the undercut portion 94 so that, when the connector means 60 is in position in the aperture 98, the key 70 will limit the rotation of the upper torso portion 20 to approximately 100. As shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, the angles M and E may each be 20, 42 and the angles K and C may each be approximately 6. It has been found that these angles result in a more realistic twisting of the upper torso portion 20 with respect to the lower torso portion 76. Thus, the coplanar wall portions 58 and 96 produce a self-imposed, predetermined twisting action.

Referring now more in particular to FIG. 10, the aperture 98 has a 0.420 inch diameter and a .2 45 chamfer and the underside 104 of the top wall 92 is undercut as indicated at 106 so that, during assembling of the connecting means 60 into the aperture 98, the top wall 92 will fiex to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 10 to pass the midportion 66 of the connector means 60 and then flex back to the solid line position where it locks against the sloping portion 108 forming a transisitional section between the cylindrical portions 64 and the lower portion 68 of the connector means 60.

In use, the doll 10 may be caused to assume any number of different positions by manipulating the bendable legs 16, the arms 18, the head 12 and the torso 14. As the head 12 is rotated about the connector means 40, the shelf 34, because of the angle it forms with a forwardrear horizontal axis, will more nearly simulate the turning of a human head. Additionally, the angles C, E, K and M will cause the torso to twist in a realistic manner by lowering one shoulder and raising the other shoulder during twisting movements.

The torso 14 is preferably made from a fairly rigid material, such as a linear polyethylene plastic, which may also be used for the arms 18.

While the particular doll herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a doll having a head, a torso comprising:

upper torso means forming a neck portion and a midlower torso means forming a midriff portion and a trunk portion;

means for connecting said head to said neck portion;

and

means for connecting said midritf portions together in such a manner that said torso means may be subjected to twisting movements;

said midriff portions are joined together by coplanar end portions forming a predetermined acute angle with a substantially horizontal forward-rear axis for imposing a predetermined twisting action on said torso means during said twisting movements.

2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said midritf portions are joined together by coplanar end portions are joined together by coplanar end portions forming a predetermined first angle with a side-to-side horizontal axis and a predetermined second angle with a forward-rear horizontal axis for guding said torso means through predetermined paths during said twisting movements.

3. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a protuberance provided on one of said torso means and a socket provided on the other of said torso means for receiving said protuberance.

4. A combination as stated in claim '2 wherein said neck portion includes an upper end forming a shelf for said head, said shelf forming the same predetermined angle with one of said horizontal axes as said coplanar end portions for facilitating removal of said upper torso means from a mold following the formation thereof by molding operations and for guiding said head through realistic paths during the turning thereof of said neck.

5. A combination as stated in claim 2 wherein said 5 6 first predetermined angle is approximately 6 and said References Cited second predetermined angle is approximately 22. UNITED STATES PATENTS 6. A combination as stated in claim 3 including a key provided on said protuberance and stop means provided 3,221,442 12/1965 Ester 46-162 X in said socket for limiting the amount of rotation of said 3,246,422 4/1966 Teagarden 46 173 X protuberance in said socket 5 3,277,602 10/ 1966 Speers et a1 46173 X 7. A combination as stated in claim 6 wherein said LOUIS MANCENE, Primary Examiner. protuberance includes an enlarged mid-portion for locking said socket to said protuberance. CUTTING Assistant Exammer' 8. A combination as stated in claim 7 wherein each of U.S. Cl. X.R. said coplanar end portions includes an undercut portion 10 46 154 173 and an annular edge portion.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,425,155 Dated February 4, 1969 lnventofls) John W. Ryan and Jack Lewis Lemkin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In claim 2, line 3, delete the phrase "are joined together by coplanar end portions".

Signed and Scaled this Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks Disclaimer 3,425,155.J 01m W. Ryan, Bel Air, and J ack Lewis Lemlcin, Torrance, Calif. DOLL CONSTRUCTION FOR NATURAL MOVEMENTS AND POSITIONS. Patent dated Feb. 4:, 1969. Disclaimer filed Aug. 30, 1976, by the assignee, Mattel, I m. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 3, 6 and 7 of said patent.

[Official Gazette January 18, 1.977.] 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A DOLL HAVING A HEAD, A TORSO COMPRISING: UPPER TORSO MEANS FORMING A NECK PORTION AND A MIDRIFF PORTION; LOWR TORSO MEANS FORMING A MIDRIFF PORTION AND A TRUNK PORTION; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID HEAD TO SAID NECK PORTION; AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID MIDRIFF PORTIONS TOGETHER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID TORSO MEANS MAY E SUBJECTED TO TWISTING MOVEMENTS; SAID MIDRIFF PORTIONS ARE JOINED TOGETHER BY COPLANAR END PORTIONS FORMING A PREDETERMINED ACUTE ANGLE WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FORWARD-REAR AXIS FOR IMPOSING A PREDETERMINED TWISTING ACTION ON SAID TORSO MEANS DURING SAID TWISTING MOVEMENTS. 